Grease pttmp



May 15, 192s. 1,669,425 i E. M. scovlLLE GREASE PUMP Filed Nov. 3. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet'l E. M. SCOVILLE Mary 15, 1928.

GREASE PUMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 3. 1924 w ///l/l. 4

Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED I STATES EUGENE M. SGOVILLE, F MILWAUKEE,

WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FLOYD L. SWANBERG, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

GREASE PUMP.

Application filed November 3, 1924. Serial No. 747,697.

This invention relates in general to improvements in the art of automatically transporting semi-fluid substances, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of mechanism for positively and effectively distributing predetermined quantities of material such as grease from a common source ot supply through suitable conductors to any number of points ot utilization.

An object of the invention is to provide,

simple and elticient mechanism for pumping semi-Huid substance such as grease.

Some of the more speciic objects of the invention are as followsz i To provide a simple and compact pump of relatively large capacity'vvhich is capable ,of positively and continuously pumping semi-fluid such as grease.

To provide improved pumping mechanism which is adapted to distribute regulated quantities of semi-fluid from a common source to several independent points of utilization.

To provide a multi-unit pump structure in which any of the individual units may be cut into or out of operation at Will, or entirely removed or restored, Without interfering with the normal operation of any of the other units.

To provide an improved multi-unit pumping system which is extremely flexible in operation. i

To provide means for effecting rapid and accurate variation of the capacity or rate of delivery of a semi-fluid pump or thelike, and for independently controlling 'the operation of each of several operatively associated. units.

To'provide improved pump structure all parts oit which are conveniently accessible and removable and similar elements of which are interchangeable.

To provide means for facilitating the construction of `grease pumps and the like with the aid of drills and other ordinary machine tools.

To provide a simple and eiiicient visible indicator Yl'or semi-fluid pumping devices, whereby the actual condition of operation or' the mechanism is discernible at all times.

To provide effective means for eliminating air pocketing in grease pumps or the like. l

To provide a compound multi-unit grease pump in which the initial compression stage is common to all of the units While each unit has its own final compression stage and resultant pressure.

To provide improved operating mechanism for a multi-unit pump or the like.

To provide improved instrumentalities for replenishing the semi-fluid or grease supply.

To provide improved gage mechanism for pump structures.

To provide various other improvements in the details of construction of pumping mechanisms, whereby the manufacture thereof is facilitated and the etliciency of operation is enhanced to a maximum.

Some of the novel features of pump structure disclosed but not specifically claimed herein, form the subject of copending applications Serial No. 567,064, tiled June 9, 1922, and Serial No. 589,748, filed September 22, 1922.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of the operation of devices constructed in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a part sectional side elevation of a complete multi-unit grease pumping mechamsm. y

Fig, 2 is a top view of the complete multiunit grease pumping mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through a modified form of displacement device.

Fig. il is a part sectional side elevation of a grease replenishing hand operable pump.

Fig.` 5 is a transverse section taken through the connecting element which unites the oil and grease displacement plungers of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged central vertical section through a partially assembled pump structure forming a part of the improved grease pumping mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged top vieu7 of a partially assembled pump structure forming a part ot the improved grease pumping mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section taken through the oil displacement pump forming a part of the improved grease pumping mechanism.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section taken through one of the tinal stage grease pumps forming p art of the improved grease:A pumping mechanism. l l

Fig. 1() is central vertical y section,

through the casing of one of the final stage grease pumps.

Fig. 11 is a top view of the casing of one of theiinal stage grease pumps.

Fig. 12 is a horizontalv section taken through one of the linal stage grease pumps. Fig. 13 is another horizontal section taken throughoiie of the iinal stage grease pumps.

f Fig. l4is'an elevation of an improved yforming amain oil supply chamber 70; 'an

oilA pump 3 supported by and located atene end of the casing l2; one or more identical ina'l grease discharge and indicating pumps 4 supporte-d by 'the casing 2 laterally adjacent tothe oil pump 3; common driving mechanism for all of the pumps 3, 4; and an electric motor 5 drivingly associated with thepump driving mechanism. y

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the casings 6,7 arefof dierent 'diameters and are detachable from'each other for the purpose ot vpermitting interchangeable substitution of a chamber 6 or a. chamber-7 of greater or smaller capacity. As shown in Fig. 3, the grease supply and the oil displacement coinpairtm-ents vare formed in a single casing 17 'and'areseparated by a vertically-movable displacement `plunger 21. -The casing 17 is adapted to be substituted for the duplex casings 6, 7l of Fig. '1, if desired. The plungers 8, -9 'ot Fig. 1 are rigidly united by a con- .l necting element 10 the cross-section ot which is yshown in F ig. 5,v and are vertically movable withinth'e casings, 7 respectively. The space between the plungers 8, 9 is provided with avent opening 32, and the upper ends of the casings 7, 17' are provided With removable endy heads 18 of identical construetion.- rlihe end heads 18 are provided with grease supply openings which are normally closed by means ot covers 19 held in position by means of clamps 22. Each cover 19 is provided with a check valvefiitting 20 whereby grease may be forced into the grease sup-ply 'chamber with the aid of a grease gun such'a's is commonly used for lubricating automobiles, without necessity of removing the cover 19. The grease in the grease supply 1 'chamberv may also be replenished upon removal of the cover 19, with the aid of a hand operated grease pump 11 such as shown in Fig. 4. This hand pump 11 has a discharge portion which snugly tits the opening in the end head 19..

' The pump casing 2 having the oil supply chamber formed therein is supported upon one end ot a supporting plate 16 which is secured tothe upper casing 7 or which may likewise be attached to the casing 17. The casing 2 is provided with a top plate 25 havingkk elongated openings 33 therein at which the pumps 3, 4 may be applied. lThe front of the casing 2 is formedfwith a V-shaped recess Withinwhich an oil level gage 36 is located. The lower rear portion of the casing 2 is provided with a conduit`29 within which a heating or a cooling' element may be inserted. The medial rear portion of the casing 2 is provided with a grease confining conduit 23 the end of which communicates with the grease compartment of the casing 7, 17 through a pipe 14, and with the upper side of which a plurality ofvertical conduits communicate. Fiach of these lvertical conduits is provided. with a spring pressed ball checlrvalve 35 which is adapted to-be held away from its seat by the pronged end GO of a plug 31, as shown in Fig. 9. When a plug 31. is in place, the corresponding valve 35 is open and grease is adapted to iow freely iirom the conduit 23 into the central conv duit 61 of the plug. Then Athe plug 31 is removed, the corresponding valve 35 automatically clos-es and prevents escape of grease from the conduit 28.

The single oil pump 3 which is located adjacent to one end; of the casing 2 is shown in detail lin Fig. Sand comprises a main casing secured to the oil supply casing 2; a .vertically reciprocable plunger 41 of relative'ly large diameter fitting -a. bore vot the pump casing; an inlet or suction valve 49 surrounded by al strainer 46 and controlling the'iiow of oil from the chamber 70 to the pump displacement chamber through a conduit 43'; a discharge valve 50 for controlling the delivery otoil from the pump displacement chamber to the discharge pipe 13; and a sight flow indicator 30 associated with the pump discharge line. The plunger 41 is positively elevated by means of an eccentric 42 and is held` downwardly in engagement with the eccentric by means ot a helical compression spring 52. The suction valve 49 is located near the bottom of the oil supply chamber 7 0 and isy spring pressed to its seat. The discharge valve 50 which is likewise spring pressed is mounted in a removable it'ting 54 to the side'of which the discharge pip-e 13- is also connected. Thedischarge pipe 13v connects directly with-'the lower oi'l chamber of the casing 6, 17 as shown in Fig. 1. The sight fiow indicator 30 comprises acheck valve 5.1 located within the fitting 54 and adjusted to permit escape of a lui) indicating medium, positively indicating the condition of operation ofthe sever-al pumps 3, 4 at all times. d

F or definite speed of themotor 5, the capacity oi'the oil pump 3 will obviously be constant, but the ,capacities of the individual greasepumps 4 may be readily varied to meetA varying demands, with the aid ofthe stroke adjuster-s 40. y ln case air enters the displacement chamber ot one of the plungers 45, the grease under pressure which fills the vpassage 66, conduit 65 and. the annulail groove 59 lills any clearance space that may exist between the plunger and thebore and insuresv positive displacement of the air by the pump plunger.

Hit .is desired to replenish the grease in y I vby a chamber of dilierent capacity.

y It rWill be observed'that every element of the structure is readily accessible fory inspection and removal. 'Any one or more of the grease pumps 4 may be removed or installed withoutinterfering,With the normal operation of. the other pumpsthus making it possibleito deliver grease through any desired number of the distributing lines 1,5. Practically all of the passages and bores in the f pump casings may be formed with the use vfio of ordinary drills and jigs and all similar i parts of the mechanism are of like construction and henceinterchangeable. The various valves are all freely accessible and removableand spherical or ball valves are utilized vWherever possible.- y d, From the foregoing description it will be kapparent, thatthe improved pumping mechanism is of simpley and compact construction and is adapted to distribute regulated quan' tities of grease from a common source to any numberof independent points of utili- Zation. Any `of they individual units may be placed intoor out of operation at will `Without interfering with the operation of other units, and the entire system is .eX- Atremely flexible. The sight flow. indicators posi-tively. .indicate the condition. v.ot 4'operation ofboth the oil and the greasey pumps and air pocketing is eiectively eliminated. The improved gage 36 is effectively vprotected and. indicates when replenishing of the grease ispnecessary. It should be understood that it isfnot de- Sired `to limit the invention to the exact details of ccnstruction herein shown, for obvious modilications may occur to persons .skilled .in the art. i

' It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patentge-v ing grease, an oil pump operable simultaneouslyyfith said grease pump, and a sight `iiow indicator for said voil pump, the quantity or oil passing through said indicator being proportional to the quantity of'grease being tranfa'iorted by said grease pump. t

, 2. In combination, a grease pump, an oil pump, means for simultaneously operating said pumps, means for' simultaneously varying the capacities of said pumps,` and a Sight flow indicator for saidvoil p,ump,.the` quantity of oil passing through said indicator being proportional 'to the quantity of grease ,being delivered by said greasepump.

3. In combination, an enclosed .grease pump, andnieans for indicating the condition of operation of said pump, said means comprising a sight flow indicator `and means for passing through said indicator quantities oit relatively thin 4oil proportional to the quantities ot grease delivered by sai-d pump. Y

4. In combination, an enclosed. grease pump, an'oil pump having a transparent discharge conduit, common means for operating said pumps, and means for simultaneously varying the capacities yof said pumps, the quantity of oil passing through said transparent conduit being proportional to vthe quantity of grease being delivered by said grease pump.

5. In combination, a source of oil supply, a source of grease supply, a pump,y means operable by said pump for causing oil from said first source to deliver grease romsaid second source,` a pump for discharging a` predetermined quantity of the grease delivered from said second source to a. point of utilization, and means for utilizing oil from said first source to effect a visible indication ot the condition of operation of ysaid grease discharge-pump. .l l

v 6. ln combination, a source Lof yoil supply, a source of grease supply, means yfor vutiliz- Iing a portion of theoil from said oil supply -source to discharge grease from said grease supply source, a plurality of distribution lines, and means for circulating other por- `tions of the oil from saidoil supply source to indicate the rate fot delivery. of grease from said grease supply source. to saidA lines.

7. In combination, anoil supply source, a grease supply source, a pump "for urging a portion of the oil-from saidoil supply source into said grease supply source to deliver grease therefrom, a plurality of distribution lines `for receiving said delivered grease, and a pump for circulating another portion of ln combination, a pump' for transport-l lits All)

the yoil from said oil supply source to indi-V cate the rate of' delivery of grease from said grease supply source to each of' said lines.

8. In combination, a grease supply casing, an oil supply casing supported by said grease supply casing, a plurality of pumps supported by said oil supply casing, and a driving motor for said pumps supported by said grease supply casing.

9. In combination, conduit means for confining grease under pressure, a plurality of pumps having suction lines associable With said conduit means, means for edecting independent removal of said pumps, and valves for automatically preventing escape of grease from said conduit means upon removal of said pumps.

10. In combination, a casing forming a conduit for confining grease, a plurality of pumps supported by said casing, each of said pumps having a suction line communicable with said conduit, means for effecting independent removal of said pumps from said casing, and valve means for automatically preventing escape of grease from said conduit upon removal of said pumps.

11. In combination, a casing forming a conduit for confining grease, a plurality of pumps supported by said casing and each having a suction line communicable with said conduit, common means associated with said casing for actuating all of said pumps, means for independently varying the capacities of said pumps, means for effecting independent removal of said pumps from said casing and from said actuating means, and valve means for automatically preventing escape of grease from said conduit upon removal of said pumps.

12. In combination, a casing forming a displacement chamber having therein movable means which divides said chamber into segregated compartments, a pump for forcing liquid into one of said compartments to positively move said movable means so as to deliver fluid from the other of said compartments, a second pump adapted to receive fluid from said other compartment, and means for varying the quantity of said fluid discharged by lsaid second pump independently of the rate of delivery of said fluid from said other compartment.

13. In combination, a casing forming a displacement chamber having therein a movable plunger Which divides said chamber into segregated compartments, a pump for forcing liquid into one of said compartments to positively move said plunger toward the other of said compartments, a second pump adapted to receive fluid from said other compartment, and means for varying the quantity of said fluid discharged by said second pump independently of the rate of movement of said plunger.

14. In combination, a casing forming a cylindrical displacement chamber having therein a slidable plunger Which divides said chamber into segregated compartments, a pump for forcing oil into one of said compartments to positively slide said plunger toward the other of said compartments, a second pump adapted to receive grease 'from said other compartment, and means for varying the quantity of grease discharged by said second pump independently of the rate ot sliding of said plunger.

In combination, a casing forming aV displacement chamber having therein movable means which divides said chamber into segregated compartments, a pump for forcing liquid into one of said compartments to positively move said movable means so as to deliver fluid from the other of said compartments, a plurality of independent fluid distribution lines adapted to receive fluid from said other compartment, and means for varying the quantity of said fluid delivered to each of said lines independently of the rate of delivery of said fluid from said other compartment.

16. In combination, a casing forming a displacement chamber having therein a movable plunger which divides said chamber into segregated compartments, a pump for forcing liquid into one of said compartments to positively move said plunger toward the other of said compartments, a plurality of independent fluid distribution lines adapted to receive fluid from said other compartment, and means for independently varying the quantity of said fluid delivered to each of said lines.

17. In combination, a casing forming a. displacement chamber having therein a slidable plunger which divides said chamber into segregated compartments, a pump for forcing liquid into one of said compartments to positively move said plunger toward the other of said compartments, means for varying the capacity of said pump to change the rate of travel of said plunger, a plurality of independent fluid distribution lines adapted to receive fluid from said other compartment, and means for independently varying the quantity of said fluid delivered to each of said lines.

18. In combination, an oil pump, and a grease pump, said pumps being formed for interchangeable cooperation with several grease supply chambers of different capacities adapted to receive oil from said oil pump and to deliver grease to said grease pump at a definite rate.

19. In combination, an oil pump, a grease pump, and means for independently varying the capacity of each of said pumps, said pumps being formed for interchangeable cooperation With several grease supply chamberscf different fixed capacities adapted to receive oil from said oil pump at a definite llt) rate land 'to deliver :grease :to said grease pump.

20. In combination, a pump casing having a bore, a piston reciprooable in said bore, and i @discharge :valve for controlling the final delivery of'uid Ifrom said bore by said piston, said piston having an annular recess intermediate the ends thereof normally sealed by said'bore, and said easing having aonduit formed to establish freeeommunieation between said recess vand thel delivery yside of saidvvalve only when said plunger reaches the extreme end of its delivery stroke.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is -aixed hereto.

EUGENE M; SCOVILLE, 

